This presentation discusses about the theories of aggression, causes of aggression and the methods to manage aggression.

1. AGGRESSION &
VIOLENCE
Dr. Malathesh

2. DEFINATION
Human aggression – behaviour directed
toward another individual carried out with the
immediate intent to cause harm. In addition
the perpetrator must believe that the
behavior will harm the target, and that the
target is motivated to avoid the behavior
Violence - is aggression that has extreme
harm as its goal (e.g., death). All violence is
aggression, but many instances of aggression
are not violent.
(Bushman & Anderson 2001)

3. TYPES OF AGGRESSION
Direct
Physical
Verbal
Indirect
Physical
verbal

5. TYPES OF AGGRESSION
Hostile/ affective/impulsive/reactive aggression:
has historically been conceived as being impulsive,
thoughtless (i.e., unplanned), driven by anger,
having the ultimate motive of harming the target,
and occurring as a reaction to some perceived
provocation.
Instrumental aggression: is conceived as a
premeditated means of obtaining some goal
through harming the victim, and being proactive
rather than reactive.
Geen 2001

6. Theories of aggression
Cognitive Neoassociation Theory
(Berkowitz (1989)
Social Learning Theory (Bandura 2001)
Script Theory (Huesmann 1986)
Excitation transfer theory (Zillmann 1988)
Social interaction theory (Tedeschi &
Felson 1994)

8. “Modeling”
Learn how to behave prosocially
Learn how to behave aggressively
Social Learning
Theory (Bandura)

9. Script Theory
Scripts are sets of particularly well-rehearsed, highly
associated concepts in memory, often involving causal
links, goals, and action plans
When items are so strongly linked that they form a script,
they become a unitary concept in semantic memory.
when children observe violence in the mass media, they
learn aggressive scripts. Scripts define situations and guide
behavior
Thus, a child who has witnessed several thousand
instances of using a gun to settle a dispute on television is
likely to have a very accessible script that has generalized
across many situations

10. Excitation Transfer Theory
Physiological arousal dissipates slowly.
If two arousing events are separated by a
short amount of time, arousal from the first
event may spill onto the second event.

12. Social Interaction Theory
Interprets aggressive behaviour (or coercive
actions) as social influence behaviour
Actor uses coercive actions to produce
some change in the target’s behavior.

13. Other theories of aggression
• Instinct theories
• Freud
• Psychoanalytic theory
• Death instinct vs. life instinct
• Aggression – death instinct is
turned outward at others
• Evolutionary theories
• Darwin
• Genetic survival
• Genetic selection for
aggression
Darwin
Freud

15. Input Variables
Person factors
Personality traits
Gender
Beliefs
Attitudes
Values
Long term goals
Scripts

16. Input Variables
Situational factors
Aggressive cues
Provocation
Frustration
Pain and discomfort
Drugs
Incentives

17. Routes
Cognition
Scripts
Hostile thoughts
Affect
Mood and emotion
Expressive motor responses
Arousal
Interconnection between above three routes

18. Causes:
1. Early Training
2. Biology
3. Cultural Expectations
4. Instinct
5. Influence of the Media
6. Use of Alcohol
7. Modelling

19. Early Training
Children who are punished severely by
their parents are more aggressive,
became more aggressive adults, are
more likely to have criminal records
and more likely to have a history of
violence. Children copy what their
parents do.

20. Biology
High levels of male hormone
testosterone. Testosterone
increases the amount of
adrenaline released by the
body.

21. Cultural Expectations
Varies from culture
to culture. In
militaristic cultures
higher levels of
aggression and
violence are
accepted.

22. Instinct
Humans have natural aggressive
and violent instincts because
traditionally the more
aggressive humans survived and
passed on this genetic code to
their children. This is based on
anthropological views of
“survival of the fittest”.

23. Influence of the Media
Connection between TV violence and
real-life violence. People are less
likely to be emotionally upset by real-
life violence after viewing TV
violence.

24. Use of Alcohol
Alcohol may reduce the
inhibitions that would
normally prevent a person
from acting violently.

25. How Can Aggression Be
Reduced?
Catharsis: Doesn’t work
Punishment: Not a simple solution
 Deterrence Theory: Punishment has to be
moderate, certain, and swift
 Corporal punishment increases aggression
(Eron et al., 1991; Straus et al., 1997; Gershoff,
2002)
Remove Cues to Aggression (Berkowitz)
Provide Better Role Models (Bandura)

26. How Can Aggression Be
Reduced?
Cognitive Interventions
Apologizing can be effective
Engaging in activities that distract attention
away from anger causing factors
Teach social skills
Better communication
Induce incompatible responses
Humor

27. References
Bushman BJ, Anderson CA. 2001. Is it time to pull the plug on the
hostile versus instrumental aggression dichotomy? Psychol. Rev.
108:273–79
Geen RG. 2001. Human Aggression. Taylor & Francis. 2nd ed
Berkowitz L. 1989. Frustration-aggression hypothesis: examination
and reformulation. Psychol. Bull. 106:59–73
Bandura A. 2001. Social cognitive theory: an agentic perspective.
Annu. Rev. Psychol. 52:1–26
Huesmann LR. 1986. Psychological processes promoting the relation
between exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior by the
viewer. J. Soc. Issues 42:125–40
Zillmann D. 1988. Cognition-excitation interdependencies in
aggressive behavior. Aggress. Behav. 14:51–64
Tedeschi JT, Felson RB. 1994. Violence, Aggression, & Coercive
Actions. Washington, DC: Am. Psychol. Assoc